The Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) is a freshwater fish species listed on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act as threatened. In Canada, the Spotted Gar is found in shallow, heavily vegetated coastal wetlands along the north shore of Lake Erie in southwestern Ontario. It typically inhabits clear, well-vegetated, slow-moving or still waters. The Recovery Strategy for the Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) in Canada identifies critical habitat for the species in a number of areas, including federally protected areas.

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to subsection 58(2) of the Species at Risk Act, subsection 58(1) of that Act applies, 90 days after publication of this notice, to the critical habitat of the Spotted Gar, as identified in the recovery strategy on the Species at Risk Public Registry, within the following federally protected areas: Point Pelee National Park of Canada, the boundaries of which are described in Schedule 1 of the Canada National Parks Act, and the Big Creek Unit of Big Creek National Wildlife Area, the boundaries of which are described in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Area Regulations made pursuant to the Canada Wildlife Act. For greater certainty, critical habitat in Big Creek National Wildlife Area is identified within the contiguous waters and wetlands of the Big Creek Unit to the low-head dike, saving and excepting the interior diked cell.

Dominic LeBlanc Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard